Lincoln homeowner capitalizes on incentives to install Tesla Powerwall home battery

Homeowner Melissa Buttaro of Lincoln, Rhode Island, called Newport Electric Construction (NEC) Solar to install a Tesla Powerwall 13.5kWh battery in her home. The Tesla Powerwall is a fully-integrated AC battery system designed for residential and light commercial use.

With a rechargeable battery pack, it stores solar power for later use, as well as providing time-based control and backup. Her existing rooftop solar system plus battery storage will pay for itself in 10 years and save $44,000 over the next 25 years. She was also able to use several incentive programs to finance the project. NEC completed the project in June of 2020.

NEC Solar had previously installed solar panels on Melissa’s home in 2019. Last spring, the company informed her about several incentive programs available. These included the federal tax credit, 0% financing through the Rhode Island HEAT Loan program, and the Connected Solutions program, which allows property owners to sell their stored solar energy to National Grid during peak usage. 

“When they mentioned energy storage options to me at the start of the pandemic, there seemed to be a lot of insecurity in the world at that time,” Melissa says. “I realized how essential power is for working from home and staying connected with friends and family. I wanted a secure source of energy and to reduce my reliance on the grid.”

Once Melissa learned more about Tesla Powerwall, including about its ability to detect a grid outage and switch to solar battery power in a fraction of a second, she was sold. “The decision to buy one essentially became a no-brainer,” she declares. “I didn't have a generator at the time, and now I don't worry about not being able to work from home, or the pipes freezing when I leave town in the winter." 

The Powerwall is compact and takes up minimal space in Melissa’s garage. She is so pleased with the Powerwall that she has recommended it to several family members, and her parents now have two in their home.

“Homeowners are looking to be self-sufficient and use the energy that their solar systems produce daily at night and be prepared in an emergency or black out,” said Taylor Yeager, director of sales for NEC Solar. “The generous incentives of the REF grant, Connected Solutions Program, and tax incentives have brought front and center the conversation of storage and solar. We are excited to be able to offer a diverse range of storage solutions, incorporating varied chemistry and power output to fit any homeowner’s needs."